Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-01-07
RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION.
Tho Policy OF tho State Not to Harass
tho COFporAttOns.

Tho Policy OF the State Not to Harass
tho Corporations.
The subject eft transportation-or reason
able tariff rates on our railroads.&c. Of sup
RENE interest to the people Of this state, and
have no doubt will secure your earnest at
tention. The right of the Legislature to pass
laws for the supervision OF railroads has been
for snumber OF years we'll settled. This right
was not, however, established without Sc
we're and protrscted struggle. ! we'll remem-
Der that when 10 1870 1t was drst advocated by
the then governor Of this state, in . message
to the legislature, the proposition was Re-
ceived with much doubt. Not only all the
large majority Of the lawyers OF the state an.
tsgonized ieas in conflict with the fundamental
law Of the land and opposed
to the genius of our institutions. However,
in the following year bill was passed by the
legislature and with the approval OF the gov
ernor became a Law, fixing the rate. both
freight and passenger. About the same time
similar legislation was enacted in several
other northwestern states. Suits were insti.
tuted In this state, in Illinois, and perhaps in
some other Of the northwestern states, under
the so called "granger laws" against varsas
railroad companies for the violation Of thu BE
laws. The enactments were experimental and
no doubt crude and ill-adapted to the ex-
igencies Of the situation. but they served the
purpose of securing a jud:cia! sanction and
vindication Of the right Of legislative control.
The judicial decisions obtained under them,
not only in the state courts but in the supreme
court Of the United States as'well, settled for.
ever the constitutionality of such laws, and
confirmed the authority of the Legislature.
Thus was esta blished one Of the most i'm
portant rights ever secured free people. The
exper iency OF state supervision over railroad
and kindr. corporations has sometimes been
doubted since then but the right 10 NO Longer
questioned.
1 do not take tito be the policy of the state
NEEDLEssLY INTERFERE WITH
or to harrass any great interest, and more
especially the railroad interests Of the COM
monwealth. That railroads have become in
dispensabie to commercial and agricultural
prosperity. II not to the very existence OF the
civilization OF the century, NJ one needs any
longer to be told. To eliminate them would be
to turn back .be wheel of progress to the very
por tails Of the dark ages. But their supreme
importance makes 1t only the more essential
that they should be so judiclously managed
aud controlled as to develop the highest ef1i-
cheney aud usefulness Of which they are capa.
Bile, not simply Us wealth producers to their
managers and proprietors, but as engines
powerful for good to the masses Of the people
as we'll.
The very fact that every city, town and vii
lage strives for the most ample railroad facili.
ties, ia tribute to their value which no one
can gainsay. Any movement to Cypress or
cripple these interests, simply to eatisfy
popular clamor, would not only be unjust TO
tho roads, but ruinons to the people them
selves. There Is often a wide but honest di.
vergence Of opinion between the masses who
use and desire 10 profit by the roads snd their
managers and owners. They view matters
from different standpoints, and often each does
the other injustice. The duty Of the state is
TO find the middle eronnd.--the happy mean
between tho extremes-and having found
hand, the great and often intricate relations be,
tween the railroads and those who furnish
them business and pay their dividends.
Tho policy Of this STATE. after s,me legis.
)ative nuctuation, has settled upon board Of
commissioners - the best fundamentally
with which to accomplish this end. My judg.
ment concurs In this policy, and that safety to
both sides lies In board Of able. iacotruptible
mon, fearless in the discharge OF public duty,
and with ample powers to enforce their de-
crees. Though railroads In this country are
not built with public funds, they can
NOT DE CLAssED AS PRIVATE rRorERrY.
They are common carriers, and, even under
tho common law, are under certain obligations
and owe certain duties to the public. Their
franchises are grant from the state, and they
possoss no essential powers not conferred BY
the state. Therefore 1t is from the people
that they obtain ITO and authority, and their
accountability to tho people logically follows.
The public interest in such corporations,
though not one Of invested capital. Is real and
substantial, and'one that The state can not, in
Its duty to the public, cease to protect. The
right Of control on tho part OF tho state IL but
a fair rctur" for tho powers and privileges con.
fcrred This right indeed would seom TO DO
inhoront and iMdetcasiblo In tho state. 1t IL
cvcn to DO doubted II tho state could divest
itself Of tho dntios and responsibilities I'M
piled wore It 30 disposed.
Thore IL but little or no organization among
tho farmers Of tho state Tor mutual protect ton,
and In the rnattor OF frclghts and tho inspec-
ton and grading OF grain their intcrosts arc
specially committed to the railroad and ware.
house commissioners. As II rulo other indus
triea have more complete organization and arc
much better qualified to caro- for themselves.
Tho railroads, as Is well known. arc under tho
49,. MANAuEMENr or AnLE MEN, VIA
capable OF protecting them at every point.